Veteran drummer Joe Vitale’s third career solo album “Speaking in Drums” has dropped, knocking out the “Little Drummer Boy” at our yuletide party this year.

Joe’s certainly had inspiration over the last forty years, having played, recorded, toured and produced with many of the biggest names in rock history, and co-authored hits for Joe Walsh and the Eagles as well. Speaking in Drums follows his previous solo albums Roller Coaster Weekend (1975) and Plantation Harbor (1981).

Joe’s new disc is available here. And don’t stop there, ’cause the apple doesn’t fall far from the partridge in this year’s pear tree: pick up Joe Vitale Jr’s debut release “Dancing With Shadows” over here.

Stephen Stills is in concert over here in Europe. We took in the show Wednesday night in Amsterdam at the famous classic venue Paradiso, a snug, old church re-opened in 1968 as a concert hall.

The venue’s acoustics were ideal for the first half of the show, a solo acoustic fingerpicking guitar set which included many classic favorites from his career configurations: Helplessly Hoping, Treetop Flyer, Johnnys Garden among them. His playing is phenomenal and his rendition of Suite Judy Blue Eyes was cool – he started off acoustic – stopped in the middle for about 45 seconds, roamed around while the rest of the band took their places behind him and then resumed with them, finishing with a rip-roaring guitar which we figured must have left his hands bleeding. The second half was electric and allowed him to cut loose his blues-rock streak. In between, he covered Dylan and Tom Petty. The audience participated in For What It’s Worth and Love the One You’re With.

He and his band – Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli and Todd Caldwell – are still on the road, moving over to the UK for two weeks of shows.

Multi-instrumentalist and drummer extraordinare Joe Vitale is doling out backstage passes! Set for November publication, BACKSTAGE PASS is the title of his upcoming book in which he shares stories gleaned from 40+ years touring and recording with the likes of Joe Walsh, the Eagles, Foreigner, Dan Fogelberg, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Neil Young, and of course, Crosby, Stills & Nash among many, many others. Personally signed copies are now available for pre-order.

What else is Joe up to? Well, he tells us his forthcoming album “Speaking in Drums” is in the last mixing stages and will roll out any day now. He’s also been busy helping to produce his son Joe Vitale Jr’s new disc.

We’re planning to catch up with Joe when he comes through Europe supporting Stephen Stills’ solo tour next month. The guys kick off October 1st on the continent before heading to the U.K. for a two-week stint. View tour dates at stephenstills.com.